The Delta independent., 1887-05-24
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
From our regular correspondent.

From our regular correspondent.
The past week was full of interest
1" the people Of Washington rs well as
To the hundreds Of strangers who came
hiiher through interests scientific, biisi-
hess and social. may say there were
four national conventions. First came
the h'tel proprietors. representing all
the leading cities and all the leading
hotels of the United States. who talked
aver matter of mutual interest, pX-
changed ideas and experience and had
good time generally. Then there
Was the American Surgical Association
which was in session lvre, and the So
ciety "f the Army of the Cumberland,
which held its annual reunion and un-
veiled the statue it had erected TO Gar
field with much impressive pomp and
ceremony. And Saturday morning saw
IN assemblage of Gentlemen such as
the world has rarely witnessed. This
was the "forty-niners." s."-the men who
crossed mountain and plain, braved
the ice fields OF the Antartic seas, or
ths fervid SONS and fevers of the torrid
zone. and founded new empire ON
the shores of the Pacific. A number
of these California pioneers. probably
hundred or more. met here aud spent
The day together. They boarded u Po-
t,i,ac steamer and had u sail down the
RIVER. during which they organized II
California Piunesr's Association. A
plank shad dinner followed, and then
recitals of incidents. adventures and
"reminiscences of their earlier days,
which show ed that these 'Jasons" of
the new world are still youne enough
10 enjoy themselves. On last Friday
President Cleveland. for the
FIRST TINE IN HIS LIFE,
,oude a pilgrimage to the tomb of
George Washington. IL was at the i'll
vitatiun ot tho widow of Cen Logan.
who is now regent of the Mt, Vernon
Association. The President, Mrs. Cleys-
sand and about dozen other invited
guests embarked on the steamer Cor
coran la.e in the afternoon. Arriving
tmere they spent an hour or so ramb-
ling about the historic spot and re-
turned TO the city after night. Two
days hence soldier boys from all over
tn. United States will be pouring into
Washington for the National drill
The irst company to arrive will be the
Vicksburg Southrons, then the Indi.
annapolis Light infantry. the Louisiana
Riius, and the Muscatine Rifles
Sunday will be the busiest day for ar
rivals. however. and before midnight
IL il expected that every company will
bs quartered Oh the
CAMP GROUND
Miss Clara Barton, president of the
Red Gross Society. will have charge of
the hospital rf the encampment, and Il
nozen local physicians and surgeons
will bs on her staff. ss also veteran
xrmy nurses and Il number of volun-
i~ers from the training school for
,,mrses. Temporary hospital barracks
are l~.ing erected, and the soldiers will
lie well cared for when they get sick.
4" the majority of people of this city.
the necessity of hospital department
to the national drill seemed to he a
surprise. Preparations by the Red
Crss Society seemed to lie the first
suggestion to them that the coming
week of military display WAS likely to
place among US sick and suffering men.
strangers and soldiers who would need
treatment and care. Until then prob
ably not one person in hundred bad
realized that there could lie u serious
feature connected with the great holi-
day week. or that so much display
could develop as 4 part of itself. All &C.
tual necessity. demanding the same
means of relief the same watchful
care. tender sympathy, wise provision
and firm control that All equal number
Of soldiers might require III u veritable
camp or
ACTUAL CAMPAIGN.
A moments reflection, however,
makes 1t apparent that it would be i'm
possible To bring thousands Of men
here under any form Of enlistment.
from their widespread homes. subject
~ change Of all habits Of life. food.
watsr. climate. occupation and rest
and place than in competitive action.
avery mar, Mt his most and hest, for
the sp.cs Of nine days, without any Of
them falling III or needing care oI
.trrstmsnt IL will bs wonderful. in.
de~i, II there l,e not some who will
never return u their homes.